Harry Levitt sends heartfelt apologies for misspelling Richard Lieberman‘s name in a Class Notes item in the Mar./April 2011 issue of Yale Alumni Magazine. The corrected item is below:
Richard Lieberman wrote: “In a recent issue of this magazine, Chris Conty raised the question of whether he was the oldest first-time father in our class. This has inspired me to come forward, just in case there is any one out there who is curious about my doings and whereabouts. In February of 2002, I was rushed to surgery for the repair of a thoracic aortic aneurysm, caused by an undetected genetic defect. (This was the same defect that famously killed the Three’s Company actor John Ritter, later that year.) After a stormy, scary course, I left the hospital with a shiny new Dacron aorta, and a titanium replacement for my aortic valve. I returned to work as an ER doctor, and I was able to continue my work with the Santa Fe Ski Patrol, though I had to decrease my skiing velocity because of the risks imposed by the prescribed blood thinners, which are necessary to prevent my new valve from clotting.
“Later that year, I got married to Carol Vaughn (UNM ’87), and I left the ER to open a walk-in ‘urgent care’ clinic in Santa Fe. The project was so well received that we opened up several more clinics in northern New Mexico. We also became popular for our ‘free’ days, when anyone without health insurance could walk in and see the doctor. Running a business has been gratifying, and I especially enjoy being able to order equipment without having to go through 14 committees.
“In July 2007, Carol gave birth to Elianah Rose, who is now in her second year of pre-school. I was 58 when she was born. She has added such a beautiful dimension to our lives, and every day is a blessing. Barbara Twigg, from Davenport, was recently in New Mexico for her work with the DOE, and she got to meet Elianah. Elianah was well behaved, and Barbara did not have to witness one of the famous 3-year-old meltdowns. I have plenty of time to take our daughter to school, gymnastics, Hebrew class, the Ski Basin, and swim lessons. After all those years of bachelorhood, I simply love being the doting father.
“Hope to see all of you at the 40th in June. Elianah will be in tow, unless she decides to stay in NYC to visit toy stores.”